Dawgs By Nature
Less than a week before Halloween. Hopefully, no tricks for this Browns roster, and may the running game provide the treats. So far, it has been the defensive side of the ball that has brought the sweets.
RELATED: MYLES GARRETT HAS FIVE SACKS
The New England Patriots are having a really good season after former Browns consultant Mike Vrabel took over the controls this year. Unfortunately, he is well aware of what the Browns offense’s tendencies are, and what DC Jim Schwartz likes to do in certain situations.
Could Cleveland defeat one of their own? In the end, the Browns were completely smothered for most of the contest as they were beaten up pretty badly, 32-13.
So who played well for the Browns? Who didn’t?
DE Myles Garrett – With 7:31 left in the third quarter, the Patriots had a first down at the Cleveland six-yard line. QB Drake Maye dropped back to pass, but DT Shelby Harris’ pass rush sent Maye scurrying out of the pocket as he headed to the right flats. EDGE rusher Garrett caught him at the eight-yard line for a sack and a loss of two yards. At this point in the game, New England was completely in control of every aspect, yet here was Garrett still in the game, and going full out to drag down their QB. This epitomized Garrett’s relentless pursuit in this game, despite the scoreboard becoming increasingly lopsided.
Garrett would end up with five sacks, five QB hits, five tackles for loss, and six total tackles, second on the defense. RT Morgan Moses had no answer for Garrett’s inside move, and even when the Patriots placed a tight end on that side for the chip, sometimes Moses would completely lose where Garrett was headed. The third-and-goal sack in the first quarter was all-Garrett, beating his man. Great swipe of Maye to cause the fumble right before the half. On the Carson Schwesinger interception, it was Garrett who put pressure on Maye, which forced an early throw.
AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Year again?) on a team that got pummeled.
S Ronnie Hickman – All over the field, but also had the bulk of his eight tackles after Patriot receivers were left wide open and the safeties were forced to bring them down. In the first quarter, rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson hit the right side and then scampered 18 yards. Hickman was all the defense had left, who made a saving tackle. Stuffed RB Rhamondre Stevenson for no gain with 12:14 left in the game.
Stopping third down – The Patriots had plenty of opportunities to extend drives, but this Browns defense just didn’t bend on third down. New England ended up converting just three of 11 attempts for the game.
LB Carson Schwesinger – The interception was a thing of beauty as the rookie jumped up for the pick. Too bad he didn’t score because the Browns got nothing out of the turnover. Nailed Stevenson for...
